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PHANTASIES 

BY 

NANNA MATTHEWS BRYANT 




BOSTON 

THE GORHAM PRESS 

1914 



Copyright, 19x4, by Nanna Matthews Bryant 



All Rights Reserved 



^3 



T*c' '-' 



The (torham Press, Boston, U. S, A. 



16 Icii4 

©CI,A8744S(; 



PREFACE 

These poems were not written with a view 
to publication. They were jotted down by 
the author at odd moments, and are the over- 
flow of a mind attuned to Nature in all her 
varied moods. Some of them are weird imag- 
inings which came in hours of sleeplessness, 
sometimes of pain. Others are gay, bright lit- 
tle songs which, though not set to music, yet 
suggest melody in their lilting syllables. Some 
were written at sea, and one almost feels the 
splash of the spray, hears the wash and roar 
of the waves, and beholds their majesty, as 
one reads. Some ar^ tributes of affectionate 
appreciation to friends, or to works of art and 
literature. All breathe a delicate refinement 
of taste and feeling, and will inevitably appeal 
to the thoughtful mind. M. R. J. 



CONTENTS 

Page 

A Prayer 7 

A Little Fir Tree 9 

Indian Summer 10 

The Night 11 

Silent Night 12 

The Land of Heart's Desire 12 

Minute Thought 13 

Under the Moonbeams 14 

A Little Song 15 

Faded Leaves of a Rose 16 

An Answer » 16 

Into the Depths 17 

When I Stood Upon the Sands 18 

Watching a Sea-Gull Whirling Over the 

Sea 19 

Had I Two Wings! 20 

A Question 20 

Two Souls 21 

The Poppy Red 22 

Into Thy Depths, O Soul 23 

Tears 24 

Summer Time 24 

The Snow Fall 25 

The Passing of Life 26 

A Question 27 

Look Not too Long. 28 

A Question 29 

Minute Thought 29 

The Lily of the Valley 30 



CONTENTS 

Page 

A Fragment 31 

Thought 31 

Thoughts 32 

Evening Glow 33 

Falling Twilight 33 

Past Midnight 34 

Thought 35 

Thoughts 36 

An Impression 37 

Twilight 38 

This Voice Came Out of the Sea to Me 

One Night 39 

When Prone Upon the Earth I Lie. ... 40 

Each Day: Each Hour 41 

Once in a Lifetime 42 

Life's Rockbound Coast. 43 

Conviction 43 

The Heritage of Every Man 44 

Once Upon a Time 45 

After Life's Turmoil 46 

Longing for Sleep to Close Mine Eyes. . 47 

A Prayer 48 

Minute Thought 49 

Two Moods 50 

Assurance 51 

Lonely 51 

And A Voice Spoke Out 52 

Kind Death 54 

Hidden ' 54 



CONTENTS 

Page 

A Sunbeam 55 

Dreams 5^ 

At Sunset 57 

Thoughts 58 

Consoled 59 

Sweet Death 60 

Thought 61 

Doomed 61 

Awake 62 

On Whistler's Portrait of His Mother. . 64 

Looking at Little g.ose 65 

Spring 65 

Berceuse 66 

Assured 67 

To An Old Violin 67 

Thoughts 68 

A September Day 69 

The Water Lily 70 

My Better Self 71 

The Waterfall 72 

Song 73 

To 73 

One Long Golden Path 74 

My Only Wish 75 

I Care Not When 76 

Within Me Once Awoke 77 

Little Mary 78 

Into the Glowing West '. . 79 

"Wrung From My Very Soul" 80 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Touch Not 8 1 

Why? 82 

A Fancy 83 

Silence 84 

A Sunbeam 85 

71iought 85 

A Little Song 86 

Woe, Thou Art the Maker. . 87 

Oh, Pity! 87 

A Leaf Found in the Book of a Dead 

Friend 88 

Silence 88 

When the Moon Breaks Forth 89 

A Plea 90 

At Sea 90 

Song 91 

The Mermaid 92 

At Sea 93 

Mid-Ocean 94 

October 94 



A PRAYER 

Within my heart lie buried many a treasured 
thought: 

Why not come forth 
And sing a song to those I lovef 

So help me God above. 



A LITTLE FIR TREE 

Far above on a high hill-top 

Stood a little fir-tree. 

It looked up and saw the sky above it, 

It looked down and saw the soft earth about it ; 

It looked around and saw this beautiful world 

Stretching afar. 
The little fir stood alone, but it feared not. 

It was content. 

The waves rolled in 
To the silver sands, 
Like a kis#"for 

A new-made bride. 

The moonbeams gleamed 
And the sea it sighed, 
For — for sadness 

My heart had died. 



INDIAN SUMMER 

Alone upon a hillside, 

Flat upon the soft grass, 

Above, a cloudless, half blue, rosy sky; 

Soft whispering winds. 

Gentle murmurs, 

A butterfly flutters by, 

The sunshine, warm and dry, 

Falls straight and direct. 

Each grass-blade nods and bends, 

A graceful bend of every stalk, 

A clean defined line of twigs and branches 

Against the sky. 
A perfect day, October soft and brown, 
Autumnal sounds and tones exist, 
A tiny ant creeps by: the creature gleams. 
The sun streams down direct upon it. 
The earth is brown and fresh of scent: 
I lay my cheek now close upon it. 
A caressing sense enfolds me; 
Nature has taken me into her firm arms. 



10 



THE NIGHT 

Hark to murmuring aspen leaves, 
Sleepy birds in all the trees, 
Silent stars in heaven high, 
Dewdrops on the grass-blades lie. 
Misty mists w^ith moonbeams play 
Dripping founts of music's lay: 
Misty mists with moonbeams play 
Dripping fountain's fairy lay. 
Shadows dance amid the trees, 
Stealing kisses from the leaves: 
Fairy moonshine, soft gray night. 
Poet's dream qpe long delight: 
Starlight heavens, murmuring leaves,- 
Mysteries round us Heaven weaves. 



II 



SILENT NIGHT 

Oh, slumber, dusky night. 

Falling about me now in soft gray gentle light, 

Enfolding now my soul into its grasp, 

Like lovers clinging close at parting time. 

Oh! glories of the mysterious 

Hidden treasures of the silent night. 

Send unto me this subtle richness of no light, 

And teach me how to use my soul aright! 



THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE 

If we could find the path 

Which leads us to the Land of Heart's Desire, 

How glorified would be the joy to journey 

there. 
No matter if the road be long and drear. 
The Land of Heart's Desire lies long ahead. 
And only those who reach it are the Dead. 



12 



MINUTE THOUGHT 

I often think as I wander 

How very tender 

The grass-blades seem to kiss my feet; 

And we so strong have naught to say 

To the tender grass-blades 

Spread along our way. 



13 



UNDER THE MOONBEAMS 

The moon hung high 

In the vaulted sky. 

The world lay asleep beneath, 

All wrapped in silence 

Dun and gray, 

And hardly shuddered a leaf. 

A lonesome owl in a treetop tall 

Hooted a lonely lay. 

A ghost passed by 

Beneath the trees, 

Having no word to say. 

Now the moon hung low 

In the vaulted sky, 

For all rosy came creeping the day. 



14 



A LITTLE SONG 

I stood to gaze, 

And watch the maze 

Of apple-blossoms falling. 

The wind flew by, 

I knew not why 

The apple trees were weeping. 

A robin sat and singing high, 
O'er his nest a watch was keeping 
Then later on, a nest forlorn, 
And robin, too, was weeping. 



15 



FADED LEAVES OF A ROSE 

Found in an old Book 

Only a spray of wild roses 

Silent between the leaves, 

But it speaks to the heart that is broken, 

And to one who in silence grieves. 

AN ANSWER 
To ''Going Blind" by John Tabb 

Knowest thou not, poor soul, 

Though once ye saw, 
Yet ye have never seen 
And never can — nor could — 

Until the Day Divine 
May come; 
When then thy soul awakens, 
And thy spirit life has thus begun. 



r6 



INTO THE DEPTHS 

Into the depths of the silent night I gazed, 
And gazing found I naught but deepest shade ; 
Then, gazing still, I felt the peace of silence 

On me fall, 
Lifting my soul above the world so small 

With strife and greed : 
And thus behind me could I leave it all 
And revel in the perfect silence of my soul, 
Made purer by a Voice that would not call. 
And thus into the depths of silent night I 

gazed. 
And gazing, found I Heaven, 
Hidden 'mid the mystic shade. 



17 



WHEN I STOOD UPON THE SANDS 

I dropped hot tears and they fell 

Into the sobbing sea 

The waves came back 

And kissed my feet — 

For they were caressing me. 

I dropped hot tears and they fell 

Into the moaning sea. 

And in twilight gray, 

As the death of day 

Like a phantom lay, 

The waves came back 

And kissed my feet, 

In a tender, consoling way. 



i8 



WATCHING A SEA-GULL WHIRL- 
ING OVER THE SEA 

A gray sea-gull 
Circling through the soft gray sky, 
Between the heavens and the sea it seemed to 

play, 
Like silvery flashes of soft sunlight falling 

Upon the ocean spray. 



19 



HAD I TWO WINGS! 

Had I tvvo ^Wngs of white 
Like angel's wings all soft. 

I'd never walk. 
But up to skies of blue I'd fly. 
And satisfy my curious mind — why 
The heavens were blue? 
And how the gold stars grew, 
And why the sun did gleam. 
And where be^an the rainbow's color-stream? 



A QUESTION 

Softly falls a dewdrop 
From the dusk}- leaves : 
Or can it be a tear 
Of one that grie\^es? 



20 



TWO SOULS 

"Whence comest thou?" 

Spake a soul 
To another soul 

Hurrying by. 
"Whence? 

I come from thence 
WTiere you are hurrying now, 

Eternity. 
For I have died before 

And sat outside the door 
Of Heaven's Gate: 

And now I wait 
To see the fate 

Of others hurrying by 
Forevermore." 



21 



THE POPPY RED 

O Poppy, so red, so gay, 

Why do you hang your head to-day? 

Is it that sun has kissed you shy? 

But perhaps, you will not tell me why? 

Then I heard a voice, and it answered low, 
"No: not that — I can tell you so, 
But ashamed I am of my ruddy face. 
For about me bloom, delicate as lace. 
Blue cornflowers, graceful and tall and slim. 
They dance and bow with grace to the wind ; 
Then I hide my face for very shame. 
And never my head will lift again." 

Then I plucked a poppy, bleeding red, 
And I kissed the posy, and blessed its head, 
And said: "Dear poppy, you are dear to me. 
For I always think of my love like thee, 
For when I go to her she hangs her head, 
And for very joy, like you blushes red." 



2Z 



INTO THY DEPTHS, O SOUL 

Into thy depths, O Soul, I seemed to peer, 
And, peering, I could feel thee near. 
Nearer than e'er I dared to hope to feel 
The real truth of one's inner Self. 

For worldiness doth seem to taint one's being. 
And rub the beauty of the truth away. 
But now and then the Gates are open wide, 
And one may stray into unbeaten paths 
Of Honesty — and there abide. 



23 



TEARS 

I watched two mournful eyes, 

And watching them I saw soft tear drops 

gather, 
And when they fell 
Dewdrops and pearls were dulled 
Beside the lustre of those precious drops. 
For to me they alone could tell 
That hidden in the dear and wondering soul 
A precious sympathy all for me was held. 
Alas, dear eyes! 
Fill not with glittering tears. 



SUMMERTIME 

When the birds twitter under the eaves. 
And sunlight dances on all the leaves. 
Then lift your head in happy song. 
And bless the tune so fine and strong. 



24 



THE SNOW FALL 

A mantle which is thrown about the world, 
And snowflakes falling, sadly moaning wind — 
Old Father Winter walks abroad with stately 

tread, 
And e'en to him bows the pine tree's proud 

head. 



25 



THE PASSING OF LIFE 

Full many an hour I sit and muse, 
And wonder what life is about: 
For many roads open before me, 
And I find I have many a doubt. 

And so I do nothing but wonder, 
And the shadows grow longer and gray, 
And before I can compass the Vision, 
My life will have vanished away. 



26 



A QUESTION 

Behind me it all lies, 
The skies so blue, 
And Heaven, perchance — 
I wish I knew! 

O could I happy be 
With it all clear to me. 
What chance may lie 
Beyond the sky? 

Unanswered is my thought, 
My senses all are fraught 
With questions — ^Why? 
And I find no reply. 



^7 



LOOK NOT TOO LONG 

Look not too long into the loud and noisy 

world 
Where voices, all confusion, 
Ruffle the long day: 

But rather listen to the voice of Inner Self, 
And hear the words the Soul may have to say. 
For harmony within one's self will bring 
A hope and watchword for the strife of life, 
And waken thus within the inner self the thing 
Which shows the soul the path to glorious 

strife. 



28 



A QUESTION 

When the mind is barren, 
And the heart weary with sorrow, 
Can we think the sun may shine, — 
All will brighten on the morrow? 

But the morrow comes, 
With it sunshine bright and warm; 
Blossoms bright and birds with song. 
And the heart has ceased to long. 



MINUTE THOUGHT 

We see not, 

Neither do we hear. 
We poor mortals think we hear 

And know and see: 
But nay — our day will be 

Only in Eternity. 



29 



THE LILY OF THE VALLEY 

Nestling there 'mid leaves of green, 
Lily white, scarce to be seen, 
Spreading fragrance to the air, 
Giving joy and breath so rare, 

Pure, dear floweret. 

To me you give 
More true pleasure than I can tell. 
Stay, and blossom ever dear, 
So I may find thee year by year. 



30 



A FRAGMENT 

A prayer is hidden on my lips, 

I whisper soft and low; 

Oh! could my heart grow bold enough 

Then might I tell her so. 



THOUGHT 

Came unto me a feeling 

Of tenderness all for thee: 

I thought a thought of gentleness; 

I breathed a prayer of truest pure desire, 

That for thee, love, 

My soul and life might be both higher. 



31 



THOUGHTS 

Only a bit of soft green twig 
From the green still woods in my hand I had, 
But a soft sweet peace spread o'er my soul, 
And my heart sang a song which made me glad. 

There's a beauty in the air, 

It comes and goes, and no one knows 

Whence comes the beauty of the rose, 

Like the moonbeam in the sky, 

Like the flower that must die. 

We often wonder, WTiy? 

And silently we sigh. 



32 



EVENING GLOW 

The glow of evening flooded all the sky, 

The glowing golden clouds were piled high, 

Above the drowsy world a gentleness, 

A crescent moon all new was gleaming gold, 

A dusky mist and dew were over all, 

For day had vanished — now does twilight fall. 



FALLING TWILIGHT 

With drooping lids 

The twilight closed the eyes of weary day, 

Bidding now all the world to sleep: 

And then the stars came twinkling, one by one. 

To light the night, and keep 

The traveler straight upon his way. 

Until the light of sun again proclaimed the day. 



33 



PAST MIDNIGHT 

Alone! I seem to be the only living thing, 
For Night has folded all the world beneath its 

wing; 
All else is dead in sweet and tranquil sleep, 
I only, all alone, in hopeless agony weep, 
For sleep — no sleep — sweet sleep, may come 

to me, 
Only dark lone long desert of dark night I see ; 
For I am thinking, thinking, thinking, turning 
To death — no not for morning 
Is my weary soul all yearning. 



34 



THOUGHT 

The dusk falls over all, 

A hush is o'er the dying day, 

The cricket's drowsy chirp 

Makes evensong along the dusky way. 



35 



THOUGHTS 

A pine tree, 

Lone and dark, 

Stretching up to the deep, stern heaven 

A lonely star, 

Peering down yearning 

Like longing eye — 

Beneath it all, 

A lonely soul! 



Music thus so grand and great. 

Doth in my soul awake a harmony divine. 

My being all uplifted above the world's small 

mien. 
Entranced doth turn 
To skies of crystal clearness, 
Where the soul doth cease to yearn. 



36 



AN IMPRESSION 

Tinkling sounds, 
Dripping leaves, 
Starry heavens. 
Waving trees, 
Murmuring deep, 
Watches keep ; 
Deepest shade. 
Silent glade. 
Golden morn. 
Rising sun — 

Good-bye Night: 
Day's begun. 



37 



TWILIGHT 

The sun sank lower, and the rosy golden glow 
Slow faded into drowsy silent nothingness. 
Softly the dewy night descended, bidding the 

world sleep, 
And one by one the stars, Night's watchful 

eyes. 
The silent vigil now began to keep. 
Thus faded slowly all the glory to my eye, 
And silently I dropped hot tears, and sighed a 

sigh. 



38 



THIS VOICE CAME OUT OF THE 
SEA TO ME ONE NIGHT 

A sea child sat under the sea, 
The deep green sea, in a rocky cave. 
Singing a low sweet song, which made 
Rhythmical music to the tune of the wave. 
The sea child sat in her rocky cave 
All day long: year by year she made 
Soft green music and sweet low song 
Which made rhythm and music in time with 

the storm. 
And nothing else to man she gave 
Save the sad and wavy sea-green song 
Which shall last for ever and ever — so long, 
When life for thee and for me is all gone — 
Gone — gone — gone. 



39 



WHEN PRONE UPON THE EARTH I 

LIE 

When prone upon the earth I He, 
Above me all the blue, soft, palpitating sky, 
The earth beneath me with its dewy scent, 
(This to my weary form new courage lent;) 
Then I find rest and true content 
In every grass-blade toward me bent: 
For prone upon the earth I lie, 
With all above me soft, blue, palpitating sky. 



40 



EACH DAY: EACH HOUR 

I stooped and plucked a little sprig of green, 
A simple spray among the world's great throng; 
I wondered, as I wandered on my way 
If this small thing could know its power 

Of giving joy, 

Each day: each hour. 

I stooped and plucked a dead dry leaf, 
A leaf all brown and russet, ruby red, yet dead ; 
Did it but know the joy it could me give, 
And how for me it seemed to be and live, 

And give me joy and power. 

Each day: each hour. 



41 



ONCE IN A LIFETIME 

Once in a lifetime 

One's inner self awakes 

And wonders why 

The beauty of one's soul, 

Great might, 

The deeper life, 

The glories of the mind. 

May not stand forth all glorified 

And shine. 



42 



LIFE'S ROCKBOUND COAST 

Madder and madder 

Beat the waves 

Against the rocky shore: 

Another surf beats in 

And madder come 

The waves with a thundering roar. 



CONVICTION 

The rocks, the trees, the shifting wavelets. 

The clouds, the slanting golden sunbeams, 

The air so soft, 

The overhanging skies, 

Tell me wonders of a Power 

That never dies. 



43 



THE HERITAGE OF EVERY MAN 

A yearning pierces my very heart 

A yearning and a pain by words untold: 

Listen: oh silent be! 
An inner Voice it seems revealed to me, 

O silence! list, I pray, 
That I may hear the vrords it has to say. 
Yes, gently now^ it speaks — I feel my senses 

reel 
With pleasure, and my soul enriched 
With knowledge of the new-born sense. 
But whence it comes I know not — hence 
I wander on and on, content to be and see 
The world all beautiful about me beaming. 
At night the wealth of Heaven's blue 
With golden stars all gleaming, 
The gray soft shadows of mysterious twilight 

stealing, 
Lend to my being the strange sweet joy of 

feeling 
All this great wonder of the world, 
And with a glorious sense of happiness 

My soul exalting. 

I forward press upon Life's path, 
My footsteps never faltering: 
Onward I press, and now no longer 
Doth a yearning pierce my heart, 
The world lies ope before me — 
Of ft I am a part. 

44 



ONCE UPON A TIME 

Once upon a time 
A story I could tell ; 

My listeners were then content 
And all went very well. 

Then later on 
The wheel of fortune turned 

And left me poor and sad and lone 
I found myself all by myself — 

My friends had turned to stone. 



45 



AFTER LIFE'S TURMOIL 

After Life's turmoil all was o'er, 
And she in tranquil silence lay, 
Shall then to her all clearly be 
Defined — the Light of Day? 

After Life's turmoil all is o'er, 
Shall Peace to her reveal 
The longing of her soul's desire. 
Her life's one long appeal? 

After Life's turmoil all is o'er, 
May we then silent be: 
Great Presence! let us tranquil rest, 
And find Eternity. 



46 



LONGING FOR SLEEP TO CLOSE 
MINE EYES 

When prone upon my bed I lie, 

Longing for sleep to close my tired eye, 

I sob and sob, breathing many a sigh, 

For sleep comes not to soothe my brain, 

Or close my eyes or lull grim pain. 

No soothing balm to me night brings, 

No lullaby to me it sings. 

Naught but black dread doth Night me bring, 

Like some 'great bird of sombre wing, 

That folds and folds and folds me in, 

When prone upon my bed I lie. 

And long for sleep to close mine eye. 



47 



A PRAYER 

O Silence ! 

Fold me in and clasp me close, 

Enfold my weary being in thy gentle arms 

And let me rest content, 

Away from all earth's claims. 

That I may once be free from worldly chains. 

O Silence! Fold me in that I may see 

The perfect peace, contentment that might be. 



48 



MINUTE THOUGHT 

A little star fell to the earth, 
Then wondered why she came. 
A moonbeam kissed her gently 
And led her back again. 

Hamburg, Germany^ 

June igth. 

A rose I laid away, 
All glowing, ruby red. 
It seemed to smile and say, 
**0 may I live to-day?" 
Yea: in my heart ye live 
As scented incense gray. 
Dear memories me ye give 
And silence has its sway. 

Gortuley 

Red Hill J Surrey 

England. 
September l$ih. 



49 



TWO MOODS 

First Mood: 

Sometimes I wake and wonder where I stand, 
For in my dreams I've wandered in a land 
Of fairest meadows ever seen, so green were 

they, 
All gleaming in the sunshine of bright day. 
That all my heart with new-born pleasure 

filled 
And life about me gently seemed to fall, 
And children's voices, glad with laughter, to 

me call; 
And young lambs skipped in joy and glee. 
Alas! can all this passing be? 

Second Mood: 

I find myself awake, 

My lips no joyful sound can make, 

I pace the world with lonesome tread. 

And find my heart within me dead. 

Bowed down with life's great woe my head. 

I wander on and on and, weary with sad sight, 

I sit me down beside life's road and find 'tis 

night. 
And then I dream again, but waken not, 
For Death now comes to claim his share in 

life's hard lot. 



50 



ASSURANCE 

I cannot tell why sinks the sun at eve, 

Nor died the rose when once 

From its stem 't is plucked, 

But this I know — 

My heart once burned with love for thee. 

And live it shall and must for all Eternity. 

LONELY 

The sun sank low, 

And over all was spread 

A rosy glow. 

The birds flew home 

To nest together, — 

And I was all alone. 



51 



AND A VOICE SPOKE OUT 

Has my life begun, 
Or is it done? 
Wondered my soul 
When passing on. 
And a Voice spoke out 
Of the distance clear, 
Distant it seemed, 
Yet passing near: 
And again the Voice, 
Like crystal clear. 

"When the sun doth shine. 

Does it promise rain? 

When once you die, 

May you live again? 

How can you question, 

Dear foolish one — 

'Is your life all finished, 

Or only begun?' 

Rather begun, in a wondrous way. 

And now may go on from day to day." 



52 



And I raised my head 

And listened with fear, 

But the Voice grew tender 

And came so near, 

Saying: "Rise, O Soul, 

Come, follow Me. 

I am the one 

Who cares for thee. 

Rather begun, in the wondrous way." 

And this is all 

The Voice would say. 



53 



KIND DEATH 

Why look upon stern death with fear and 

scorn ? 
He really means a kindness — do not mourn. 
For souls forth into freedom doth he lead, 
Who from a world of pain henceforth are 

freed. 
And then again, so often souls, thus parted, 

weep; 
United once again, their tryst forever then 

they keep. 



HIDDEN 

Hidden down in my heart away 
Are thoughts that no man shall hear me say, 
Feelings as deep as the sea's own pearl 
Through my weary heart must ever whirl. 
For a game I play through all my life. 
Acting, through all the weary strife. 
Hidden my own thoughts deep away, 
Hidden my soul from light of day. 



54 



A SUNBEAM 

The wind swept o'er the earth, 

No grass-blade lifted up its head, 

And all the world seemed dead. 

My heart so sad, so worn, 

With strife and grief forlorn. 

Seemed like the wind-swept earth, 

A d'sert of gray pain, 

Wh( re light and life had now begun to wane. 

But suddenly a beam of God's own sun 

Fell to the earth, and touched my head bowed 

low, 
And I was then uplifted into a sunbeam's 

living glow. 



55 



DREAMS 

Through soft mild air 

And sun-kissed grass now gently nodding in 

the wind, 
Through paths of soft spring green 
All happy wandered I along. 

Beside me seemed to be the other soul 
Which knew my own, and all the world 
Did seem to me serene. 



II 



And on and on I wandered. 
Communing with the silent soul, 
Wondering whence it came, and where it 

wished to roam: 
For unto me no word this other soul did say. 
But closely wandered on and on beside me 
In a gentle way 
Which touched my feelings, made me feel 

delight. 
And then I felt the might 
Of this soul's being by my side, all silent — 
And I turned and gazed, quite still and long. 
And found myself bewildered with what I 

saw. 
When I, aghast, beheld this, I murmured, 
"No: I it cannot be." 



56 



Ill 

Then spoke my silent comrade, 
"Being! you have looked at me. 
Look twice again and you will see 
If you but lived your life quite true, 
I am that which you might be." 

IV 

Before the purity of his look 
My soul did melt with shame. 
Weeping, I then turned away — 
O soul! am I to blame? 



AT SUNSET 

The sun sank low. 

The clouds all rosy. 
Hung there above the world a crimson glow, 

All life grew still, asleep. 
The shadows soft and deep 

Enfolded all in silence, melancholy, sweet. 



57 



THOUGHTS 

I 

A leaf fluttered and fell at my feet, 

I thought of a life gone out of my life! 

II 

Another leaf fluttered and fell, 
And I thought of a falling tear. 

Ill 

My eyes were filled, 
My own tears fell. 

IV 

Into the sea of sorrow 
Another pearl is falling: 
Out of the silence 
I hear a Voice calling. 



58 



CONSOLED 

Into a sea of blackness my soul 

Did seem to plunge, 
And yet through all the darkness, 

I seemed to feel a ray of sun 
Coming I knew not whence. 

Then suddenly I felt a sunbeam on me fall. 
And gazing upward, I beheld 

The outstretched hand of one true, loyal 
friend. 



59 



SWEET DEATH 

O dusky Shadow 

Falling on the world, 

What art thou? 

Soft enfolding curtain, 

Dusky night. 

Hiding sun, daylight. 

Silently descending. 

Falling slowly, softly. 

Bidding weary eyes to close, 

And weary souls to lest 

Forevermore — who knows ? 

Silently the night, soft twilight 

On one's soul must fall. 

Bidding life to end and eyes to close: 

But, Soul, awaken, being to begin. Arise 

And enter into one eternal heaven 

With open seeing eyes. 



60 



THOUGHT 

Life comes with its joy, 
Death comes with its sorrow 
We smile to-day, 
We know not the morrow. 



DOOMED 

Doomed to die, 
I wonder why? 
Born to sigh. 
Born to cry, 

Tears to shed 
With bowed head, 
Doomed to die, 
Why question, why? 



6i 



AWAKE 

Sweet peace crept into me 

And bade me sleep. 

My soul all weary, sad with day's long strife 

Did bend toward the sweet entrance 

Of tender, gentle sleep ; 

My eyes did close, 

And ere I knew 

I wandered in a dreamland. 

My soul awoke and gazed wide-eyed 

Into my very self; 

And there it saw just me — myself, 

With all my small, mean daily cares, 

My woes, my joys, my fears, my hopes. 

And then again my soul did gaze, 

For more it wished to know. 

And, gazing deep and long, 

At last it spoke. 



62 



II 

Awake! O Being, 

Knowest thou not that life is short? 

And you are slumbering here, 

Your being lent to you 

Is silent, doing naught. 

Awake! Arise! and make yourself alive. 

For deeply hidden lies your soul which never 

died. 
But longs to live and be and do 
So many things so high and true. 
Awake! and slumber not. 
Awake! now breaks the day. 
To higher thoughts, desires, on, on, I say. 
Awake! make all the world your praises sing. 
Awake! proclaim your inner soul your king. 



63 



ON WHISTLER'S PORTRAIT OF HIS 
MOTHER 

Rare peace, soft tranquil silence, 

Gentleness and faith : 

In silent mildness there she sits and waits. 

So pure — with love in every line: 

A loving, tender presence 

Turned golden now by time: 

A dignity, yet gentleness, 

One strong sweet personality, 

Her whole, divine. 



64 



LOOKING AT LITTLE ROSE 

Those two sweet childish eyes 

Do at me gaze, 
Until I feel they read me through and through, 

And how I wish my life had been 
All pure and full of truth, like you, 

Sweet Little Rose. 

Little Rose of Soho. 



SPRING 

Wild blossoms lend a fragrance to the air, 

And everywhere I seem to see 

Some beauty rare; 

For in the budding spring 

Come fairy sights to feed one's eye on every 

side, 
And beauty is o'er all the world spread wide. 



65 



BERCEUSE 

Peace be with thee, my sweet flower, 
Peace be in thy rosy bower. 
Tranquil slumbers hold thee, love. 
Angels guard thee from above. 
Slumber, baby, slumber long, 
Soft sweet murmurs like a song 
Come to lull to gentle rest 
Tiny babe in rosy nest. 
Peace be with thee, my sweet flower, 
Peace be in thy rosy bower. 



66 



ASSURED 

I face my God alone — 

I dare not lift my eyes to gaze: 

My soul is heavy with a load of sin, 

I know not how I may atone, 

And pressed with woe, I weep and moan. 

Alone, alone I am, forlorn. 

Bereft of all, I bow my head to die. 

To die, and yet not to be dead. 

For God- is near, and He lifts up my head. 

My soul no longer knows its fear, 

For surely now my proof is, God is near. 



TO AN OLD VIOLIN 

Oh graceful curves! 

What golden color gleams 

From out your silent soul! 

At last you speak 

In accents sweet 
When once your beauty comes 
Into the Master's hold. 



67 



THOUGHTS 

Be not of this world, but live 
Above all cloud: 

For living there, one feels 
So near to God. 



Life is naught 

With all its worries fraught. 
Death is kind: 

Why should poor human mind? 
For when it calls, it frees us, one and all- 
Then answer joyfully its friendly call. 



Vanquished am I 
With life's sad fate, 
And silently I 
My doom await. 

*^The world has bowed its head. 
For everything is dead" 

The golden sun now sinking 'mid the trees, 
Spreads over all a lustre through the leaves, 
The dying year — a sobbing sigh. 
The wind's soft whisper through the branches 

high^ 
Makes music of a minor key, 
Which brings a sadness unto me — 
A sadness: why the leaves should fall, 
And spread a desolation over all? 

68 



A SEPTEMBER DAY 

Millions of sounds 

Fall on my ear, 

Sweet voices calling 

I seem to hear. 

A tiny cricket in the grass 

A greeting chirps 

To those who pass. 

The wind is sighing 'mid the trees, 

In softest measures 

Sings the breeze. 

All the world is joyous, gay, 

This soft sweet mellow 

September day. 



69 



THE WATER LILY 

In a silent pool 

All hung with weeping birches — 
Soft green their silvery stems like gleaming 

bayonets — 
Gently resting on its surface a Water Lily 
grew, 

The Lady of the Lilies, 

The flowers' queen. 

Ah ! pure white blossom, 
Art thou a soul sent back to earth 
To shed your fragrance through the weary 

world 
And slay a little of the woe so deep, 
And try to teach the poor heart-broken soul 

No more to weep? 
Oh, pure white blossom, 

Lady of the Lilies, 

Flower queen. 
Your mission is accomplished. 

Your blossom I have seen. 



70 



MY BETTER SELF 

Mysterious night about me doth unfold 

A veil of darkness — 

Darkness naught may penetrate; 

And yet my better self doth to me call 

And bid me once again awake: 

Awake to life anew, 

To live and do 

All I am meant to be 

For love of thee, 

My better Self. 



71 



THE WATERFALL 

Bound, 

Resound, 

Dashing, 

Smashing, 

Bounding waterfall. 

Dancing, 

Prancing, 

Wild romancing, 

Gleaming waterfall. 

Sunbeams catching, 

Lights bewitching. 

Foaming over all: 

Rainbow dancing, 

Wildly prancing, 

Gleaming waterfall. 



72 



SONG 

The grave, alas! Is silent, 
But memory never dies: 
I know your heart is mine, love, 
For once I read your eyes. 



TO— 

So fair was she to see 

That dewdrqps glistening on the grass-blades 

in moonbeams. 
Were not to be compared to her sweet face, 
And fairy cobwebs woven in the night 
Not worthy were to grace her lovely form. 
O'er me she seemed to hold a power divine, 
A mystery which, to my mind, I could not 

well define. 
A rose might blush to grace her beauteous 

breast awhile. 
And sunshine turn to naught beside her charm- 
ing smile. 



73 



ONE LONG GOLDEN PATH 

Across the rippling waters 
The golden moon in shining pathway lay, 
Making the tiny wavelets move and play, 
Like fairies dancing in and out a mystic maze. 
Then slowly bending low to kiss the waves. 
The waves all dipped in moonbeams golden 

gleams 
Gleamed full — a golden smile of pure delight 

it seemed. 

And ever^^ tree was filled with wooing love 
For golden moon so full of beauty far above. 



74 



MY ONLY WISH 

Two rosy lips that I might kiss, 

Heads my heart's desire: 

Two eyes of blue like heaven's hue 

A poet would inspire: 

A heart like gold, 

With love untold — 

This is mv heart's desire. 



75 



I CARE NOT WHEN 

I care not when It comes, 
This thing that all men dread, 
This cold gray hand that touches one, 
And man is dead. 

I care not when it comes; 
Should it touch me and say, 
"Come, follow me! Thou'rt mine." 
Be it dark night or day. 

I care not when it be 
That these cold hands hold me, 
For love and light are mine 
Through that great Life Divine. 



s^' 



WITHIN ME ONCE AWOKE 

Within me once awoke 

A noble feeling. 
I raised my head and found 

An angel o'er me leaning. 
Bending my head, 

I begged a blessing, 
And gently on my cheek did fall 

A gentle wind caressing — 
I raised my head, and found 

My soul alone, my heart. 
All sadly grieving. 



V 



LITTLE MARY 

I 

From God alone she came, 

To God alone she wandered back again. 

Her baby feet were not afraid, 

For was she not God's little maid? 

Two eyes like Heaven's blue sky. 
Two hands like curling rose-leaves shy, 
Two smiling lips, all ready to be kissed, 
And she must go, alas! and all this missed. 



78 



INTO THE GLOWING WEST 

I walked straight on into the glowing west 

Where sank the sun in golden glorious rest. 

About me was sweet peace and wondrous calm. 

I hastened on, and seemed to meet the world 

Bidding adieu to life and brilliant day, 

And I alone, and sadly worn with worldly 
strife, 

Longed for great fragrant stillness, and a way 

To rest my weary soul in thoughts of darken- 
ing riight, 

Where I might gather strength and new-born 
might. 

All weary sank I down and heavy lay. 

And felt the dew-kissed earth, the soft green 
grass, 

The sweeping air about the world, 

The wide expanse of universe and all. 

The silvery clouds rolled back. 

And to my eyes appeared the golden crescent 
moon, 

In new-born beauty seen ; 

On all the sky a beauty there w^as spread. 

And opened wide a road 

Which me to peace and calm and new-born 
strength now led. 

?o walked I straight into the glorious west. 



79 



"WRUNG FROM MY VERY SOUL" 

Wrung from my very soul 

My tortured life-drops drop, 

Yes, one by one into the sea of life. 

Meeting with burning eyes 

The road of life's wild strife, 

My weary feet may not turn back another way : 

My tortured body has to stay. 

This game of life to play. 

My wide, wide eyes they must not close. 

They gaze and watch, for what? Who knows? 

For mayhap the morrow to me may bring 

Some great new thing. 

That my weak self must face, 

For one must do and do: 

One's never through. 

It's only yearning, yearning, ever turning, 

The heart that's in one's body burning. 

But courage ! By and by it ceases, 

Then comes the time for weeping. 

But I — I do not weep — speak not 

For Death. Kind Silence has me fast 

Forever in its keeping. 



80 



TOUCH NOT 

Touch not the flower 

Which in its beauty rare, 

Blooms to give pleasure 

And shed its fragrance on the air: 

But let it live, and then shall be 

What God has meant the world to see. 



8i 



WHY? 
I 

In the middle of the greenwood 
A cool spring bubbled up, 
Along the edge grew lady-fern, 
And blue forget-me-not. 

II 

I thought of eyes long, long ago. 
As blue as Heaven's sky. 
And all my weary heart could cry 
Was — Oh! why should she die? 



82 



A FANCY 

Through the drifting clouds 

The moon broke forth, 

Making dark night into day; 

And the ghosts arose 

With a frightened shriek, 

And vanished, moaning, away. 

And the shadows flitted here and there, 

Knowing to turn not where. 

And the ^ mysteries of darkness 

Were all put about. 

For the drifting clouds 

Let the moon break out, 

Turning dark night into day. 



83 



SILENCE 

Silence, silence everywhere, 

A soul approaching with a silent tread 

Doth bring imto my own soul dread. 

But no — 
We meet, we gaze with long firm look, 
We need no words to tell 

That all is well. 
We grasp each other by the hand, 
And silently we stroll along 
Communing, yet no words are said. 
And blessed still 
The silent friendship of two souls. 

We wander on, and on. 



84 



A SUNBEAM 

The glory of the sun 

Did once upon me fling 

A golden ray! 

Blest was I then henceforth 

For turn where'er I may 
Naught felt I but the glory 

Of eternal day. 



THOUGHT 



Silent waters, 
Deep shadows, 

Strong light. 
Great might. 



85 



A LITTLE SONG 

As the brook floweth on forever. 
And May-time is time for the heather, 
As the love in my heart blossoms true, 
And the buds bloom forth in May weather, 
So, Love, is my love true for you, 
And change can it not, oh, never! 
As the brook floweth on to the sea, 
So, dear, flows my heart's love to thee. 



80 



WOE, THOU ART THE MAKER 

Woe ! Thou art the maker of a man : 

I fear so, for without thy hand 

No heart could blossom to the blessing of true 

good. 
For had we all the good, and never knew the 

woe, 
Could we reap all fair pleasure, 
And know the afterglow 
Of real, true joy which follows deepest shade? 
Of real, true love which, born of sorrow's 

grave 
Returns tenfold to us for all we gave? 



OH, PITY! 

Oh, Pity, 

I pray thee, 
Send to my heart 

Some warm desire. 
That I may feel and know 

The longing, too, of love. 
Show me some being fair 

That I may worship. 
Whisper softly one great true desire, 
And all my powers then inspire 

Some Might Divine! 



87 



A LEAF FOUND IN THE BOOK OF 
A DEAD FRIEND 

A tiny leaf once green, 

It marks the page 

Where once she read. 

This tiny leaf is left 

And liveth thee: 

While once the one 

Who truly lived 

Has passed away. 
And lives she now no more? 
Only in heart with sorrow sore. 



SILENCE 

Through the drifting clouds 

The silvery moon, 

Smiling down silently. 

Beheld the world. 

The silence all appalling, 

No rustling leaves. 

No birds to mates were callfng- 

But silence, silence everywhere. 



88 



WHEN THE MOON BREAKS FORTH 

Out into the darkest depths of night 

I peering, wondering, and perhaps a little 

fearing, 
Watching dark and gloomy trees a vigil keep- 
ings 
Dripping dewy leaves in sadness weeping, 
Tinkling fountain in the distance leaping, 
Making music in the silent night *. 

Now break the moonbeams from a dark and 

sombre cloud. 
And the dewy dripping trees now glad and 

joyous cry aloud, 
"Awaken! Queen of Night. 
We happy in your glorious light must be, 
And each would sing a happy song to thee." 

No longer dewy dripping leaves a vigil keep- 

But every one a happy song with tinkling 
fountains leaping. 



89 



A PLEA 

Great billows of deep sorrow o'er me bound, 

I bow my head and listen to the thundering 
sound, 

Until my soul into a sea of darkness is em- 
braced. 

And happiness from all my heart is chased. 

Bound back, great billows! 

O let my heart be free, 

And spare me all the great wild sorrow 

Of the Sorrow Sea. 



AT SEA 

On board the Victoria Louise 

Into the sea the sun sank down, 
Into the west went he, 
And out of the west the wind blew forth, 
Out of the west came she. 

Blow, blow, blow, 

O winds from out of the west: 

Sing, sing, sing, 

O bird there guarding thy nest. 



90 



SONG 

High overhead 

The apple-blooms hold holiday, 
And the summer breezes with them 

Are now at play. 

Ah! well do I recall, Love, 

The May Day long ago, 
When two dear eyes gazed into mine, 

And said, "I love thee so." 

L'envoi 

The apple blooms since then have bloomed 
The whole year through and through ; 

Why do they blossom all the year? 
The answer: "I love you." 



91 



THE MERMAID 

A Sketch 
Written in mid-0 cean 

A mirage seemed to come to me 

Across the soft gray sea. 

A mermaid arose out of the mist, 

Beckoning with white hands toward me 

She held out her arms, 

Then clasped me close — 

I gladly gave her my own. 
"Down, down with me, 
Come down with me, 
I will show thee my coral home." 

"Gladly, gladly, I go with thee, 
Down into the depths of the sea." 

And her sea-weed hair waved wild with the 
wind, 

And bound me then and there. 

Under the sea, under the sea, 

Into the depths went we. 

I felt myself ebbing, I felt myself go 

Into the depths of the sea — so slow. 

Death held me. 

O Mermaid, thy arms are fair! 

Under the sea, under the sea, where 

The mermaid hath conquered me. 



92 



AT SEA 
On board the Victoria Louise 

Out of the east the sun rose up, 

Out of the sea came he; 
Out of the west the wind blew in, 

Out of the w^est came she. 

Out of the east the ship sailed free, 

Out of the east came she ; 
The wind it blew and the sun it shone. 

On the bonny ship at sea. 

Out of the darkness a storm did rage, 

Out of the dark it came. 
And the bonny craft with crew and all 

Sank — never to sail again. 



93 



MID-OCEAN 

On board the Victoria Louise 

A gray sea, 

A gray sky, 

And I am sailing, sailing, sailing. 

A gray sea, 
A gray sky. 
The winds are wailing, wailing, wailing. 

Sailing, sailing. 
Wailing, wailing, 
A sad heart breaking, breaking, 
The soul at last 
Awaking, awaking. 



OCTOBER 

On board the Victoria Louise 

The mysteries of the waters all about me, 
The vastness and the grayness everywhere, 
The white sea-horses foaming madness. 
My being into shreds do seem to tear. 



94 



